The Disability Trading Framework launch marks an exciting commitment from organisations to improve access to their supply chains for Disabled business owners, making the processes and systems more accessible and inclusive.
Developed collaboratively between Small Business Britain, the Disability Trading Framework Taskforce, and Business Disability Forum, the Framework aims to break down barriers and increase entrepreneurial opportunities for Disabled, d/Deaf and neurodivergent founders.
The Disability Finance Code is proudly supported by leading institutions, and will be pioneered by BT, who are committed to delivering these changes.
Signatories are committed to making progress to open up opportunities for Disabled, d/Deaf and neurodivergent entrepreneurs.
The Framework outlines the following commitments for large organisations:
Inclusive Procurement Practices:
Involving Disabled entrepreneurs to review and modify procurement policies to ensure that procurement portals, documentation, and bidding processes are fully accessible.
Supplier Diversity and Inclusion:
Incorporate the inclusion of disabled entrepreneurs as a core element of the organisation’s overall supplier diversity strategy.
Internal Training and Awareness:
Train procurement and buying teams on the specific challenges faced by disabled business owners.
Promotion of Disability Inclusion:
Actively promote the inclusion of disabled business owners in supply chain communications, highlighting successes and sharing best practices.
Inclusive Process Design:
Involve disabled entrepreneurs in the development and refinement of procurement processes to ensure they are fully accessible and inclusive.
Proactive Engagement and Support:
Actively promote a pro-disability buying strategy, encouraging disabled entrepreneurs to engage with procurement teams by providing clear guidance, outreach, and tailored support.
Research from the Lilac Review has shown that Disabled entrepreneurs face significant challenges when accessing supply chain and procurement processes:
The Disability Trading Framework seeks to address these issues by creating a more inclusive and accessible supply chain and procurement system, to allow Disabled, d/Deaf and neurodivergent entrepreneurs the same opportunities to access as non-Disabled founders.
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